THE ROLE OF ESTATE SURVEYORS AND VALUERS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN EKWULOBIA, ANAMBRA STATE

THE ROLE OF ESTATE SURVEYORS AND VALUERS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN EKWULOBIA, ANAMBRA STATE

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     INTRODUCTION

Estate management as a discipline and a noble profession especially in a developing country like Nigeria is progressively becoming significant. Governments, groups, corporate bodies and even private concerns action have taken a new dimension in the modern world as a result of rising economic trend especially in this period of global economic recession.

Now the services of the experts and professionals abounding our labour force are being sought for, and their advice being utilized. A critical look and study of the various hand use problems.

(LAND USE ACT) of 1978 in this country reveals that experts and professionals in the field of estate management and other related professions were not consulted for proper advice by the policy makers and implementations before making decisions. Today it is quite unfortunate that Nigeria which was once one of the richest third world country as an earlier said has fallen from grace to grass after her glorious days of the ever said oil-boom of the seventies. The nation has now become a debtor nation.

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY AREA (EKWULOBIA)

This is an urban area made up of nine sub-urban villages, namely: Umuchiana, Agba, Ula, Okpo, Eziagulu, Nkono, Abogwune, Ihuokpala and Umunchi.

It is located 25.778km from Awka, 44km from Onitsha (East) and 15.3kilometer east from Aka-Okwa which shows that the town is located at the center surrounded by various sub-urban towns like Agulu-ezechukwu, Isuofia, Ikenga, from North side of Oko, Nnanka,. Then viewing from the South is Ezinifite and Mkpologwu. Ekwulobia, since its creation, it has been experiencing a laudable development all around as regards to infrastructural development such as construction and rehabilitation of new and dilapidated roads, Ekwulobia-Isuofia-Nnobi road, (Ekwulobia-Uga, Agulu-Awka road) etc, the provision of pipe born water and establishment of more. Ekwulobia the largest city in Aguata, is expanding rapidly to a population of aout five hundred thousand (5000,000) people exclusing non indigene. The land mark area covers about one hundred square meter above main sea level, the land slopes gently towards east into rally of Iyiagu, Okpalayanwu and Ofalu streams which runs down from great height causing great erosion. The people were mainly villagers and predominantly farmers.

Ekwulobia is the local government headquarters of Aguata local government area. The very few infrastructural facilities in existence, were the few primary and secondary schools, general hospital, situated with few private ones, the commercial centre area, old Eke market and New Eke market which functions every four days, Hotels, banks, like Access bank, first bank, Zenith bank FCMB etc all revolves round the park (round about).

Following the rapid population growth and Emigration rate exluded by advancement in Economic activities recently at Ekwulobia and its environs and neighbourhood, the town has being elevated into an urban status which now calls for government’s attention in infrastructural development. The advancement in economic activities such as re-structuring of parks and re-development of high risk lock-up shops, more banks, filling stations, adequacy of electric power facilities, installation of Nitell pole as been done in some other urban areas like Enugu, Nnewi, Onitsha etc. the ever increasing population growth of students of federal polytechnic Oko when results to increasing demand for more residential accommodations tends to increase the value of real properties at Ekwulobia.